Guilt

Marianne had a bad habit of biting her lips until they bled or the tip of her thumb whenever she was stressed. Sometimes, whenever she was deeply pissed off. But why was she pissed when she heard Valerie slapped Fil?

Fil had no idea. 

Her body and instincts automatically went into a friendly mode. She tried to calm Marianne like she used to, but her mind was elsewhere. Fil couldn't understand it. Marianne should be acting like a good friend like always, that two-faced white lotus scheme she was so used to doing. 

After all, Marianne and Valerie got along very well. It was obvious Valerie liked Marianne, and Marianne, as the third party was supposed to cheer the brat on hating on Fil. Yet, the reaction Fil got was different from what she imagined. 

"I'm fine now." Marianne suddenly clasped Fil's hand as her fingertips brushed her lips. "Sorry."

Worry brimmed in Fil's eyes. "Anne," she breathed out. "You said you worked on this bad habit."